5,182 US measles cases in 2026, the most since 1991 in CDC data: the calm checks for your home

What CDC's count says

CDC's measles page, updated November 6, 2026, says: "As of November 5, 2026, 5,182 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026." Of those, 5,164 were reported by 47 jurisdictions and 18 were among international visitors. CDC notes that its 2025 and 2026 counts are preliminary and subject to change.

For comparison, CDC counted 2,289 confirmed cases in the whole of 2025, so this year's count is already more than double last year's. CDC says 562 of this year's 5,182 cases (11%) were hospitalized. Death counts differ by source. CDC's page lists 4 deaths in 2026, a number it says "is subject to change" while it works with state epidemiologists on a standard case definition for deaths due to measles; it counted 3 in 2025. Pennsylvania's health department alone has confirmed six measles-associated deaths in that state this year.

Most cases are part of outbreaks. CDC says there have been 43 new outbreaks reported in 2026, and that 96% of confirmed cases (4,993 of 5,182) are outbreak-associated, 1,385 of them from outbreaks that started in 2025.

The most in 35 years, in CDC's own figures

Headlines today say this is the most measles in 35 years. CDC's data page doesn't make that comparison in words, so we checked the yearly figures behind its own chart. They list 9,643 cases in 1991 and 2,126 in 1992. Every year since 1992 is below this year's 5,182, so 1991 is the last year with more cases. In our reading of CDC's data, that makes 2026 the highest yearly count in 35 years.

CDC says measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. Its history page explains that this "meant the absence of the continuous spread of disease was greater than 12 months." CDC notes that measles "is still common in many parts of the world."

Who is getting sick, and where

CDC's data show 96% of this year's cases were unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status, 2% had one MMR dose and 2% had two. By age, 908 cases (18%) were children under 5, 2,104 (41%) were 5 to 19 years old and 2,132 (41%) were 20 or older. CDC's figures show 17% of cases under 5 were hospitalized, 4% of those 5 to 19, and 15% of those 20 and over.

CDC's state map lists Pennsylvania with the most cases this year (1,476), followed by South Carolina (670), Utah (536) and Wisconsin (419). We covered Pennsylvania's sixth measles-associated death on November 5: the Pennsylvania story is here. CDC says "states have the most up-to-date information about cases and outbreaks in their jurisdictions," so your state health department is the place to check local cases.

CDC's page also says MMR coverage among kindergartners "has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4% in the 2025–2026 school year."

Check your family's vaccine records

This is the main thing to do at home, and it costs nothing. CDC says: "If you're unsure whether you've been vaccinated, you should first try to find your vaccination records." Your own papers, your doctor's office and your state health department are the usual places to start.

CDC's schedule is two doses of MMR for children, at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years old. Adults are recommended to have at least 1 documented dose, and some adults at higher risk 2. CDC's evidence of immunity includes written records of vaccination, a lab test showing immunity or past measles, or birth before 1957.

If you find no record and have no other evidence of immunity, CDC says "you should get vaccinated," and adds: "There's no harm in getting another dose if you may already be immune." CDC also says some people should not get MMR, or should wait: check with a provider first if you are or may be pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or had an allergic reaction to a previous dose.

Know the signs, and call before you go in

CDC says measles usually begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, and that the rash "appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms." It spreads easily: CDC says it "can live for up to 2 hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area," and that people can spread it from 4 days before through 4 days after the rash appears.

If you think you or someone at home has measles, CDC says to "call a doctor or hospital right away" to let them know. They may make special arrangements to see you without putting other patients at risk. CDC says to "stay home until the fifth day after you develop the rash."

CDC says to go to an emergency department immediately if symptoms get rapidly worse, or for warning signs such as trouble breathing, dehydration, confusion or severe weakness, and, in young children, a blue color around the mouth, low energy or difficulty feeding. It says to have someone call ahead so the hospital knows a person with measles is coming.

If you were exposed, or are traveling

CDC says: "If you've been exposed to someone who has measles, immediately call your healthcare provider." Timing matters. CDC says that if you get MMR vaccine "within 72 hours" of first being exposed, you may get some protection or have milder illness, and that people at high risk of severe disease may be given immune globulin within 6 days.

CDC says anyone not vaccinated, or unsure, "should be vaccinated against measles at least 2 weeks before international travel." After a trip, it says to watch your health for 3 weeks.

What you don't need to do

You don't need to buy anything because of this news, and CDC's figures don't call for any change to your home kit. The step that helps is finding your family's records now, so you aren't searching for them while someone is sick, and agreeing who stays home with a sick person and who calls the doctor. Our family emergency plan guide shows a simple way to keep important papers together.